英語：ひろしま平和の歌(English：The Hiroshima Peace Song)

The Hiroshima Peace Song

Words by Yoshio Shigezono

Music by Minoru Yamamoto

Where white clouds drift
To the ends of the sky from east to west
Echo on high
The sound of the Bell of Peace
For now we rise up bravely
And build our prosperous future here

Where blue waves swell
To the ends of the sea from south to north
Echo our prayers far and wide
In the sound of the Bell of Peace
For now we overcome our hardships
And look to the future here

Where the fresh shimmering winds blow
To the ends of Japan and to our friends overseas
Echo on our fervent will
In the sound of the Bell of Peace
For now we extend our hands
And sing of harmony here

The Hiroshima Peace Song was composed as an expression of the will to make Hiroshima into a cornerstone for world peace, and completed for the Peace Festival in August 1947. Public lyric submissions were held by the Peace Festival Association (led by Chair Shinso Hamai, then Mayor of Hiroshima) and of these submissions, Mr. Yoshio Shigezono’s lyrics were chosen and set to music by Mr. Minoru Yamamoto. The song was performed with pride by a chorus during the very first Peace Festival, held with dignity on August 6 of the same year. Currently, the Hiroshima Peace Song continues to live on, and is performed each year at the Peace Memorial Ceremony.